AS far as birthday presents go, this one was pretty good.

Dominique Hodgkinson celebrated her birthday on Saturday, a few days after being confirmed she would be one of nine councillors representing Moree Plains Shire for the next four years.

But the process of being elected to public office is not about winning, she says.

“I don’t look at being elected as a victory, but rather as an honour,” Hodgkinson said.

“To me, a victory means one has been competing against others, and while I understand that, essentially when someone chooses to run in a local government election they are ‘competing’ against the others running for a position as a councillor.

“I simply don’t look at it that way. I didn’t run to compete against others. I ran because I love this beautiful shire I’m blessed to call home, and I want to play a positive part in helping the community thrive.”

Hodgkinson, a well-known Moree real-estate agent, says she is ready to get to work on behalf of the people of the Moree Plains.

“I will work my backside off to represent this community, to advocate for them and to help them and our shire thrive,” she said.

“I look forward to entering this term with the same mindset, morals and ethics that I instil in my business and in my life overall – kindness towards others, respect towards others and a passion for helping and working with others.

Dominique Hodgkinson wants the new Moree Plains councillors to work as a team.

“I have already been contacted by various community groups and committees, inviting me to collaborate with them,” she said.

“This is not only an honour, but a true privilege. I am looking forward to working with those groups and committees, as well as many others over the coming years.”

Hodgkinson joins Susannah Pearse, Brooke Sauer, Kelly James, Wayne Tighe, Peter Mailler, Kerry Cassells, Deb Williams and Fred McGrady as the shire’s newly-elected decision-makers.

“I am excited about what a beautifully diverse group of people make up the incoming council,” Hodgkinson said.

I believe each person elected comes in with their own unique skill-set, and I am looking forward to learning from each and every councillor about what skills and passion they each bring to table.

“As a team, we can work together by utilising everyone’s skills and attributes to help the shire and community thrive.

“I believe a group of people with varying, unique skillsets, when they combine those skills and work as a team, can achieve great things, and that is what I’m hoping to see,” she said.

“I’d not only like to congratulate the other eight Councillors that were elected, but I’d like to also congratulate and thank each and every candidate that put their hand up to represent and serve this wonderful community.

“It’s a massive thing to put your hand up and run in an election, and each and every person who did should be extremely proud of themselves.

“I believe I have learned something from every candidate I’ve met and spoken to throughout this process, and for that I am very grateful,” she said.